Illuminated dynamic fluid ornamental device



April 10, 1956 E. c. FAssoN ILLUMINATED DYNAMIC FLUID ORNAMENTAL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 29, 1952 EM/L c FAsso/v,

INVENTOR.

A'TOR/VEK April 10, 1956 E. c. FAssoN ILLUMINATED DYNAMIC FLUID ORNAMENTAL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1952 EM/L C. FASSON,

INI ENTOR.

ATTORNEY llinited States Patent nrurmnrnn nvNAn/ne Finn) onNAMEN'rAL DEVICE Emil C. Fasson, Inglewood, Calif.

Appiication Elanuary 29, 1952, Serial No. 258,788

11 Claims. (Cl. 24th-10.1)

This invention relates to illuminated ornamental devices of the type in which the boiling action of a confined liquid is utilized for various decorative and attention-attracting effects. In general, such devices as' heretofore constructed comprise a vessel formed at least in part of light-transmitting material, which vessel is suitably heated to cause 20 continuous boiling action of a suitable volatile liquid contained therein and the ornamental elfect is provided by the agitation of the liquid and the upward movement of continually formed vapor bubbles.

The present invention is in the direction of greater utilization of the available energy in such a device for more striking dynamic effects. Broadly described, the invention serves its purpose by providing walls to establish circulation in the confined liquid, the circulation structure being designed for efficient conversion of the vapor-generated power into kinetic energy of the liquid.

In some practices of the invention, the lively circulatory movement of the liquid itself is utilized in various ways for ornamental effect. A basic feature of other practices of the invention is the conversion of the kinetic energy of the liquid into mechanical movement of decorative parts.

While the invention is broadly applicable to purposesV of dynamic ornamentation and/or the attraction of attention for merchandising and for other purposes, and while the required heat may be derived from various sources, the invention has special utility as embodied in small decorative devices in which both the required heat and the desired illumination are derived from a small wattage lamp bulb. For this reason the basic idea may 49 be readily embodied in Christmas tree ornaments. Such a practice of the invention will be described herein for the purpose of disclosure and illustration as well as to provide adequate guidance for those skilled in the art who may have occasion to apply the same principles to other specic purposes.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be hereinafter apparent from the following description, particularly when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which D5 Figure l is a sectional view of one form of the illuminated ornamental device with a portion of the elements broken away to more clearly illustrate the same;

Figure 2 is an end elevational View of the device shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of Figure l in an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a section takenalong line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Fiffure 5 is a section taken along line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a modified form of the present inventon;

Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure l, but showing a further modified form of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional view vof another' form of the 0 illuminated ornamental device; Y

Figure 9 is a section taken along line 9--9 of Figure 8;

ice

Figure l is an elevational View of a portion of the device illustrated in Figure 8; and

Figure 11 is a view in section showing a fragment of a further modified form of the present invention.

The first form of the invention shown in detail in Figures l to inclusive includes a sealed vessel 2i) of lighttransmitting material such as glass or a suitable transparent or semi-transparent plastic. The vessel is of upright, tubular configuration with an enlarged lower end 21 having a well portion adapted for heat transfer from a suitable source to the liquid 22 contained in the vessel. For this purpose in the present embodiment of the invention, a portion 23 of the bottom wall of the vessel is formed with re-entrant curvature to conform withthe configuration of the upper end of a lamp bulb 25, as' shown. The lamp bulb 25 is of the familiar low-wattage type used for decorating Christmas trees.

Any suitable means may be employed to hold the vessel 2t) in effective heat-transfer contact with the lamp bulb 25. In the present embodiment of the invention, a holder for the vessel 2 is provided in the form of a hood, generally designated 26, that encloses and embraces the lamp bulb 25 in a self-supporting manner. The hood 26, which may be made of light-transmitting material but preferably is opaque, comprises a shell 29 releasably attached to a disc Sli which comprises the bottom wall of the hood. The shell 29 is of circular, cross-sectional coniiguration and is tapered for snug engagement with the lower end of the vessel 20.

Releasable engagement between the shell 29 and the disc 3G may be provided by spaced tongues 31 on the lower edge of the shell designed to extend into and releasably engage corresponding slots 32 in the disc 30, as best shown in Figure 5. The tongues 3i are split to form two diverging tabs 35 and the material of the shell 29 is sufficiently resilient to permit the tongues to be contracted for movement into and out of the slots 32.

The bottom wall, or disc 39 of the hood may be adapted in any suitable manner for supporting engagement with the lamp bulb 2.5. In the particular construction shown, the disc is made of suitably resilient material and is centrally apertured and radially split to form a plurality of exible tongues to engage the lamp bulb 25 as shown in Figures l and 2. To effect such engagements', the disc 30 is temporarily separated from the shell 29 so that the base of the lamp bulb may be forced into engagement with the tongues 36 from above.

The liquid 22 may be Water under sub-atmospheric pressure to lower its boiling point, or may be a suitable, more highly volatile liquid, such as ether, wood alcohol, methylene chloride, or other liquids well known in the art. Bubble formation by vapor generation is concentrated in the region of the bottom wall portion 23 in contact with the lamp bulb 25 and the present invention is based on the concept of confining the generated bubbles and directing them upward through a suitably restricted passage means in such manner as to propel the liquid up the passage means with substantial kinetic energy. Suitable additional return passages for the liquid are provided to form a complete circuit for continuous' recycling of the liquid.

In the circulation structure shown in Figures 1 and 3, Walls of suitable material, which is preferably transparent or semi-transparent, cooperate with the bottom wall portion 23 of the sealed vessel 2u to form what may be termed a vapor-generation chamber 40. rl`his chamber tapers upward, as shown, to join an upwardly directed passage means in the yform of a tube 41 which is adapted to discharge into an upper region of the vessel 26. In the present embodiment of the invention, the tube 41 has a restricted outlet in the form of a nozzle 42 which causesV Patented Apr. 10, 1956-y the liquid to be discharged upward therefrom in the form of a jet with accelerated Velocity.

The discharged liquid returns downward in the passage formed by the clearance around the tube il and the circuit for liquid ilow is completed by clearance between the generation chamber 4t) and the adjacent walls of the vessel 20. As shown in Figure I, the tapered generation chamber 40 fits the surrounding tapered portion of the vessel 26 snugly but the wall of the generation chamber is formed with a plurality of external indentations d5 to formpassages for downow of the liquid. lt will also be noted that portions of the lower edge-ol' the wallet the generation chamber are out away slightly to provide clearance spaces 46 for free entrance of the returning liquid to the generation chamber 4d. Y

In this particular' embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that the iet of liquid discharged from the nozzle 42 at the upper end of the tube 4i will be utilized to actuate a suitable ornamental movabie means. As shown in Figure l and 3, the ornamental'means may be in the form of a cylinder or tube 4S having an open lower end and having its upper end closed by an end wall 49. The cylinder 43 may be suitably supported for rotation, for example, by means of a pivot pin In the construction shots/inthe pivot pin 50 is supported by a ring or band 51; embracing the tube 41. The upper end of the pivot pin extends into a suitable pivot socket or recess formed in the center of a member 52. The meniber 52, which may be made'of sheet metal or suitable sheet plastic material, is mounted on the under face of the cylinder end wall 49 and is formed with a series of blades or vanes 53 against which the liquid jet from the nozzle 42 is directed for rotary actuation of the cylinder #33.

The operation of this hrst form of the invention may be readily understood from the foregoing description. Vapor generated in the chamber il? by heat from the lamp bulb 2S causes eliective upow through the tube 41 not only because of convection and the lowering of speci c gravity by the inclusion of the bubbles, but also bythe effect of the moving bubbles themselves in propelling liquid up the tube. The liquid issues from the nozzle 42 with sumcient velocity against the vanes 53 to cause continuous rotation of the cylinder 45. .The discharged liquid falls back around the outside of the tube al into the passage- Vways formed by the indentations 45 and returns to the generation chamber 4i) through the clearance spaces 46 at the bottom of the chamber.

At least portions of the various walls are transparent or translucent to achieve an ornamental effect. For example, the vessel 2b, together with the walls of the generation chamber 49 and the upwardly extending tube 41, may be of substantially colorless, transparent material and the ornamental cylinder 43, together with its upper end wall 49, may be of colored or translucent material to give a pleasing, decorative elect. To make the device particularly suitable for use on a Christmas tree, or the like, the vessel 2d is shaped to the general couguration of a candle with a pointed upper end, as shown. 'Since the walls of the vessel and the circulation structure are transparent and the liquid is transparent, or semi-transparent, light from the light bulb freely illuminates the upper portion of the device in a pleasing manner.

Y' In the modification of the invention illustratedby Figure 6,.'the construction is, in large part, identical with the structure shown in Figure l, but the rotary cylinder 43 is omitted and the liquid itself is utilized for the desired dynamic decorative effect. the tube 57,'which corresponds to the previously described tube 41, has an unrestricted upper end that extends through and slightlyabove a transverse wall 58. The transverse wall 58 is cup-shaped with an upturned peripheral ange 59 to lit snugly inside the sealed vessel 2li and has a plurality of relatively small perforations 60 through which 'the returning liquid may flow to form drops that fall through the annular space 61 with a pleasing, orna- In the construction shown,

annees Y 4 mental elect. Preferably, the liquid is colored and the various walls are transparent, or semi-transparent, to make the ettect more striking.V

Figure l1 shows how the construction of Figure 6 may be modified by substituting an ornamental sleeve 64 Vfor the transverse wall 58 at the head of the tube 57. The ornamental sleeve 64 has a conical outer surface broken by numerous serrations 65 so that the liquid issuing from the upper end of the tube will dow downward over the serrations with a pleasing and decorative cascade eiect. The liquid and the Walls of the vessel Ztl and the tube 57 may be transparent, or semi-transparent, with the ornamental sleeve 64 suitably colored for contrast, but other color contrast schemes may be used if desired.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 7 includes a sealed vessel containing a volatile liquid. The vessel is similar to the previously described vessel 29 but, in this instance, is formed with a relatively deep re-entrant portion 71 for contact with the lamp bulb 25. A cylindrical vapor-generation chamber 72 has an open bottom resting on the re-entrant portion 7l and has a radial flange 73 for abutment with the surrounding wall of the vessel 70. 'To provide passages for return flow, the radial flange 73 is relatively loose fitting and may have marginal portions'cut away for increased clearance at various peripheral points. Suitable ports 74 are provided in the wall of the generation chamber 72 to insure free entrance of the liquid to the chamber.

The upper end of the vapor-generation chamber '72 opens into two upwardly extending tubes 75 each of which has its upper end restricted to form a nozzle 7S. Preferably, the two tubes 75 are curved, as shown, to intertwine or at least to intersect as seen from various lateral viewpoints. Y

A feature of this embodiment is that if the two tubes 75 are made of translucent, colored material and contrast in color, for example, one being yellow and the other being blue, the bubbles traveling up the two tubes will appear to change color as they cross the zone of tube intersection. Thus, a yellow bubble crossing an intersection will appear to change to green and a blue bubble will change in the same manner. In addition, there is a certain pleasing elect arising from the sinuous paths of the bubbles and in the geyser eiect vof the liquid spouting upward from the two nozzles 78.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 8 to l0 is another example of'how the invention may use the kinetic energy of the circulating iluid for the actuation of movable members to achieve unique, dynamic ornamental etects. ln'the construction shown, a sealed vessel Sii of the usual shape and with the usual re-entrant bottom portion 81 is embraced and supported by a tapered hood 82 of opaque material. The hood 32 is of the general construction heretofore described and has the usual bottom dise 3l) with tongues 36 for engagement with the lamp bulb 25. Preferably the hood 82 eneloses the whole length of the vessel and, as shown in Figf ures S and 9, is formed with an integral wall 83 of circular outline extending above the upper end of the sealed vessel.

i Mounted on the Wall 83 in engagement with its periphery is a dome-shaped member 85 to form therewith a compartment 86, the purpose of which is to house ornamental moving parts and to cooperate with such movable parts for pleasing dynamic eifects. For. example, the dome-shaped member 85 may be made of opaque or semi-opaque material and may have transparent portions forming some kind of a pattern so that moving ornamental parts inside the compartment behind the transparent pattern will be visible for unique, dynamic etects. Thus, as best shownV .in Figure l0, the dome-shaped member 85 may have transparenter semi-transparent portions spelling out the words Merry Xmas, and, as best shownV in Figure 9V, the compartment 86 may have a plurality of annees varicolored rotary members 87 positioned behind the transparent pattern.

In the particular construcrnn shown, the rotary members S7 comprise four discs in the form of gears, the faces of which are divided, as shown, into three equal parts of different colors, for example, red, yellow and blue. The rotary members 87 are rotatably mounted on pivots 90 carried by a large gear 91 and function as planet gears in mesh with a central non-rotating sun gear 92. The sun gear 92 is anchored to the wall 83 in a suitable manner, such as by means of a rivet 95, and has a cylindrical base portion 96 on which the large gear 91 is journalled for rotation.

It is apparent that with the large gear 91 carrying the four gear-shaped rotary members 87 in circular orbits about the sun gear 92, the four rotary members will be continually rotated. Thus, the colors visible through the transparent portion of the dome-shaped member 85 will not only be varied by the bodily movement of the rotary members 87 around their orbits, but will also be varied by simultaneous rotation of the rotary members.

In the arrangement shown, the large gear 91 is driven by a small pinion 99 on the end of a shaft 100 that extends into the upper region of the vessel 80. In this region the shaft 160 carries a plurality of radial vanes or blades 101 which are adapted to be driven by the jet action of liquid discharged upward from the nozzle end 102 of a tube 103. The tube 103 extends upward from a vapor-generation chamber 105 which is of the same general construction as shown in Figure l, being provided with indentations 106 as well as clearance spaces 107 at its lower edge for return circulation of the liquid.

For best ornamental effects, the compartment 86 should be illuminated on the inside and preferably the arrangement is such that the illumination is provided by the lamp bulb 2S. In the construction shown provision for illumination from the lamp bulb to the compartment 86 is provided by adding an opaque wall 110 to dene with the hood 82 a passageway 111 from an opening or transparent window 112 in the hood to an opening 113 in the lower side of the compartment 86. Preferably, the inner surfaces of the passageway, as well as the inner surfaces of the dome-shaped member 85, are of light-reflecting character for greater illumination etliciency.

The description in detail of various specific forms of the invention will suggest to those skilled in the art, various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure that properly lie within the spirit and scope of my appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In an ornamental device of the character described for use with a lamp bulb, the combination of: a hermetically sealed vessel of light-transmitting material having a portion shaped for contact with the lamp bulb to be heated by the lamp bulb for heat transfer to the interior of the vessel; a body of volatile, colored, translucent liquid in said vessel; a chamber having light transmitting walls inside said vessel adjacent said portion for vaporization of said liquid; and a passage means extending upward from said chamber to an upper region in the vessel, there being a return passage from said region to said chamber to form a complete liquid circuit whereby the application of heat to said portion causes vaporization of the liquid in said chamber with resulting discharge of liquid continually therefrom up through said passage means and downwardly in said return passage whereby said oppositely moving quantities of liquid produce an ornamental eect.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said passage means terminates in a nozzle to discharge said liquid in a jet stream with increased velocity.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 which includes a vaned rotary member in the path of said jet Y 6` stream for rotation thereby to create' an ornamental, dynamic elect.

4. A combination as set in claim 3 in which said member has a cylindrical ornamental Wall of colored, translucent material.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 11 which includes a transverse wall in said upper region in the path of return flow of the liquid with perforations in said wall to cause said liquid material to form drops to fall along the return path in its return to said chamber.

6. A combination as set forth in claim l1 which includes means carried by said walls at the upper end of said discharge passage forming downward sloping broken surfaces in said upper region for return liow of the liquid with an ornamental cascade effect.

7. In an ornamental device of the character described for use with a lamp bulb, the combination of: a vessel having a portion shaped for contact with the lamp bulb to be heated by the lamp bulb for heat transfer to the interior of the vessel; a body of volatile liquid in said vessel; wall means inside said Vessel forming a chamber adjacent said portion for vaporization of said liquid; a passage directed upward from said chamber to an upper region in the vessel, there being a return passage from said region to said chamber to form a complete liquid circuit whereby the application of heat to said portion causes vaporization in said chamber to discharge liquid continually from said passage means into said region in the form of a jet; vaned means rotatably mounted in said region; said jet impinging against said vaned means and rotatably driving the same; a compartment with an external wall, at least a portion of said external wall being of light-transmitting material; means for passing light from said bulb into said compartment for illuminating the same; a rotary colored means in said compartment behind said light-transmitting material, and means operatively connecting said rotary colored means with said vaned means for actuation thereby.

8. In an ornamental device of the character described, the combination of: a vessel having a re-entrant bottom portion to be heated for heat transfer to the interior of the vessel; a body of volatile liquid in said vessel; wall means inside said vessel forming a chamber adjacent said portion for vaporization of said liquid; a passage directed upward from said chamber to an upper region in the vessel, there being a return passage from said region to said chamber to form a complete liquid circuit whereby the application of heat to said portion causes vaporization in said chamber to discharge liquid continually from said passage means into said region in the form of a jet; vaned means rotatably mounted in said region, said jet impinging against and rotatably driving said vaned means; means to hold said vessel with said re-entrant portion adjacent a lamp bulb to be heated thereby for vaporization of the liquid in said chamber; a compartment having an external wall, at least a portion of which is light-transmitting; means mounting said compartment to the upper end of said vessel; means forming a light conducting passage interconnecting said lamp bulb and the interior of said compartment, whereby the latter is illuminated by light emanating from said bulb; rotary, ornamental means in said compartment behind said light-transmitting portion of the compartment wall, and means operatively connecting said vaned means to said ornamental means for rotating the same as said vaned means is rotatably driven by the impingement of said jet thereagainst.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 which includes gearing connecting said vaned means with said rotary means in said compartment for operation thereof.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 in which said light-transmitting portion of the compartment wall forms a pattern and said rotary ornamental means comprises a plurality of multi-colored discs behind said pattern for continuous color variation of the pattern.

l1. Inan ornamental device of the character described for use with a lamp bulb, the combination of: a sealed vessel Yof light transmitting material having a first portion shaped for contact with the lamp bulb to be heated by the lamp bulb for heat transfer to the interior of the vessel, and a second portion of tubular form upstanding from said iirst portion; a volatile, colored, translucent liquid partially filling said vessel; and light transmitting Walls defining a chamber in the first portion of said vessel for vaporization of said liquid, said walls also forming a discharge passage upwardly extending from said charnber to an upper region in said second portion of the vessel and enacting with said second portion to provide a return passage to the chamber, thereby providing a complete liquid circuit whereby the application of heat to said rst portion causes vaporization in said chamber to discharge liquid continually therefrom up through said discharge passage for reverse ow through said returnrpassage whereby said oppositely moving quantities of liquid in said passages produce an ornamental effect, light rays emanating from said lamp bulb illuminating said quanti- Y ties of liquid visible from the exterior of said device through said light transmitting walls.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 671,181 Cardella Apr. 2, 1901 1,559,327 Kayashma Oct. 27, 1925 1,564,352 Jensen Dec. 8, 1925 1,613,982 Cohn Jan. l1, 1927 1,856,098 Green May 3, 1932 2,353,063 Otis July 4, 1944 2.557,317 Serio June 19, 1951 

